Takeshi
A masculine Japanese name meaning "vigorous" or "warrior".
Name Census estimates that about 261 living Americans carry the first name Takeshi. It is a predominantly male name (99.3% of registrations). The average person named Takeshi today is around 34 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Takeshi births was 1924 (42 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Takeshi. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
261
~ 1 in 1,313,235 Americans
Peak year
1924
42 babies that year
Average age
34
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,702
Tracked since 1912
Gender
Gender distribution for Takeshi
Out of the 713 babies given the name Takeshi since 1880, 99.3% were registered as male. The name sits firmly on the male side of the spectrum, with only a handful of female registrations across the entire dataset.
Takeshi as a male name
- Ranked #13,956 in 2024
- 5 male births in 2024
- Peak: 1924 (42 births)
Takeshi as a female name
- Ranked #10,702 in 1976
- 5 female births in 1976
- Peak: 1976 (5 births)
Popularity
Takeshi: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Takeshi from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 270 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Takeshi by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Takeshi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Takeshis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Hawaii, California, Washington recorded the most babies named Takeshi, while Washington, California, Hawaii recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 127 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Takeshi
The given name Takeshi originates from Japan, deriving from the Japanese words "take", meaning bamboo, and "shi", meaning samurai or warrior. This name became popular during the feudal era of Japanese history, spanning from the 12th to the 19th century.
The earliest recorded mention of the name Takeshi can be found in historical records and literary works from the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD). During this time, the samurai class rose to prominence, and names reflecting strength, valor, and connection to nature were favored.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Takeshi was Takeshi Kawaji, a renowned samurai who lived in the late 16th century. He served under the powerful daimyo (feudal lord) Toyotomi Hideyoshi and was renowned for his exceptional swordsmanship and military tactics.
In the Edo period (1603-1868 AD), the name Takeshi continued to be popular among the samurai class. A notable figure from this era was Takeshi Ishikawa (1640-1718), a skilled swordsman and instructor who founded his own school of swordsmanship.
As Japan entered the modern era, the name Takeshi remained widely used. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Takeshi Kitano (born 1947), a renowned actor, filmmaker, and comedian known for his unique artistic style and comedic talents.
Another notable Takeshi was Takeshi Kudo (1832-1918), a prominent educator and philosopher during the Meiji era. He played a significant role in shaping Japan's modern education system and advocating for the importance of moral education.
In more recent times, Takeshi Obata (born 1969) has gained recognition as a celebrated manga artist, best known for his work on the popular series "Death Note" and "Bakuman".
Throughout its history, the name Takeshi has carried connotations of strength, resilience, and connection to traditional Japanese values. Its enduring popularity reflects the cultural significance and appreciation for names rooted in Japan's rich heritage.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Takeshi
People
Takeshi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Takeshi as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Takeshi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Takeshi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 261 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Takeshi going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,313,235 US residents.
Is Takeshi a common name?
We classify Takeshi as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 713 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Takeshi most popular?
The single biggest year for Takeshi was 1924, when 42 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Takeshi is about 34 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Takeshi a male name?
Yes, 99.3% of people registered as Takeshi in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.